Author's Note, Thanks again to kenjisato for editing and suggestions.
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Marc and his mother, June, arrived at her condominium after the ride from the airport.
"Marc, drop your bag in your room and meet me in the kitchen." His mother smiled.
He walked into the kitchen and found June holding out a beer for him.
"Here! To celebrate. I'm so proud of you. A bachelor's degree in only three years!"
"Mom! You've been saying that the whole plane trip home!"
"Hey! I'm your mother. And I have every right to be proud," June replied. And after a pause, "I can't believe that father of yours couldn't bother to come to your graduation!"
Marc wanted to change the subject. "So, what's been happening here?"
"Ah, well..." June started, "I guess you should know; I've been seeing more of David."
"Oh, how long have you two been seeing each other, now?" he asked.
"Hmm... since January. We met right after Christmas. Oh, and Michelle is as nice as ever. You know, she and I have become quite close this last year. We get together quite often. Except when I see David or she's out with whatever guy she's dating. And she always likes to hear how you were doing at college."
Marc's mind flew back to that passionate summer three years ago. Despite all the girlfriends he had had at school, the memory of Michelle had never left him. But he long resigned himself to the fact that that summer was just a fling to Michelle.
"And tomorrow," June continued, "we're going out to celebrate your homecoming. And David is joining us. I want you to meet him."
"What? Hoping I'll approve of him?" Marc teased. He noticed a change in his mother's tone.
"Um... well... I hope you'll like him," she replied, nervously.
It dawned on Marc that this guy his mother had been seeing these last few months was becoming serious.
When dinner time rolled around, Marc offered to cook. "I used to cook for you a lot before I went off to college. I need to butter you up."
They enjoyed dinner over a bottle of wine, with Marc, then a twenty-one-year-old, free of his mother's approbation over alcohol.
As they were clearing the kitchen table, the doorbell rang, and June went to answer it.
"Michelle! Come in," Marc heard his mother say.
Marc gathered himself. The previous two summers home, he saw little of Michelle. She seemed to have one man or another in her life when he came home. And Marc had done his best to avoid her, lest his long-suppressed feelings return.
"Marc! How are you?" he heard Michelle call out, as she entered the kitchen.
He turned to see that captivating smile that broke his heart three summers ago, and he found himself getting a bearhug from Michelle.
"Home at last. You know, your mother can't stop bragging about you."
"Hi, Michelle," was the best he could muster.
He found himself being grilled by her about college and teased over all the girls he met there.
"Well, I just wanted to come by and say congratulations. I should get going." Michelle smiled.
"Um, Michelle," Marc started, as she headed to the door. "Tomorrow, Mom is taking me out to celebrate, along with David. Um, I'm gonna feel like the odd man out. And four is better than three. Would you like to join us? That is, if you don't have other plans."
Marc turned to his mother, hoping for agreement.
"Yes! Join us!" June beamed.
Marc noted an odd look on Michelle's face, before she agreed.
The next day, June contacted Michelle suggesting an after-work get-together, as they often did recently.
"Come in!" Michelle said, on opening her door.
June noticed the two wine glasses waiting on the kitchen table and sat down.
And as Michelle poured the wine, she started, "Must be nice having Marc home."
"Yes. Of course, once he finds a job, I expect he'll find a place of his own. And Michelle, thanks for coming tonight. It's the first time Marc is meeting David. And I think he feels a bit awkward."
"So, you and David seem to be serious. Used to be, have your love interest meet your parents. Now, it's meet your kids!" Michelle teased.
"Yeah," June replied, with an edge of anxiety. "I hope they hit it off. Funny, I'm the one with a guy, and you aren't. Or is there anyone new?"
"No. Odd, now that I'm thirty, I'm looking for more, um, stability. With the last few guys, I had no desire for a long relationship. I'm starting to wonder if I'll find a keeper."
"Oh, for God's sake, Michelle. A woman with your looks could have any guy eating out of her hand. Your last one reminded me too much of my ex! Eye candy, no doubt. But a bit shallow, shall we say. Just be a little more discerning from here on out. But really, none of them were keepers?"
Michelle reflected, before saying, "There was one. He moved out of town. It was only then that I could see he truly left a mark on my heart. But he moved. Besides, there were other obstacles. Never heard from him again. So..."
"Other obstacles?" June asked.
"Oh, let it slide. Anyway, I'm sure Marc will like David. Don't you worry."
"Yes. Anyway, Marc will likely find someone soon. I gather he left behind a girlfriend or two when he graduated," June said, wryly.
The women finished their wine, and June headed over to her place to get ready for dinner. As Michelle closed her door, she recalled that day, nearly three years ago, when she and Marc made love for the last time. She was starting to worry if an evening with him might bring back feelings she long suppressed.
Back home, June found Marc waiting for her.
"Had a glass of wine with Michelle," June explained. "Now, go dress for dinner."
Marc waited in the kitchen, where his mother soon arrived, and found her dressed to kill. "Uh, haven't seen you like this in a while," he said.
"It is... a special night," she explained.
But Marc suspected she was dressed to impress David.
When the doorbell rang, June rushed to the door, with Marc following her.
"David, this is Marc."
They shook hands, as Marc sized him up. His first thought was that he was a few years younger than his mother and wondered about how serious he was regarding June. Still, it was obvious to Marc he wanted to be on good terms with his lover's son.
"Oh, we invited Michelle, you remember, my neighbor," June explained. "I'll tell Michelle we're ready."
Michelle caught up with them outside their door, with Marc taken aback. She was as beautiful as ever, with heels and a short skirt, and a top that showed off her lovely cleavage.
"Come!" June ordered, as they headed to the car.
June chose a steakhouse, something she knew her son would like. And there, the four settled at a table.
Over the course of the evening, Marc observed David closely. Having the beautiful Michelle there turned out to be a test. And despite having, what was in Marc's eyes, the most ravishing woman imaginable with them, David seemed to only have eyes for June. With David little knowing, he passed an important test.
And for Marc, it was a way to avoid looking at Michelle, as he tried not to rekindle those memories of that summer.
As they ate, June beamed about her son and made every effort to get her son and David more acquainted with each other. As the evening wore on, Michelle found herself the odd one out, with June encouraging the men to talk, and Marc barely acknowledging Michelle's presence.
With dinner over, the four returned to June's condo, where outside, they said goodbyes.
Inside, June turned to her son, "So? What did you think of him?"
"Mom!" Marc laughed, "Do you need my approval?" But the look in June's face told him she was serious. "Mom, as far as I can see, he's besotted with you. That's more than enough for me."
He could see in his mother's expression, his words were satisfaction enough.
Michelle threw herself on her sofa, trying to make sense of the night. Throughout the evening, her thoughts dwelled on that summer with Marc. Yet, he spent the whole night almost ignoring her presence. It was clear to her that she was merely someone from his past. And besides, she reminded herself, he was nine years her junior. There could be nothing more between them.
And as Marc crawled into bed, he could only think of her words three years ago, that summer was merely a fling-- that he was no more than a diversion to Michelle. And her various love interests in the years that followed only confirmed it.
That Thursday, June decided to own up. "Uh, Marc, tomorrow... I won't be home. You see, David and I... well, we spend most weekends together."
"Mom!" Marc laughed, "Duh, I'm an adult. No need to explain."
"Yes," June replied, nervously. "And, uh... Saturday. I may not be home as well."
Marc was amused, as their roles seemed reversed. "Mom!" he laughed, "Go enjoy yourself!"